Nairobi Embassy Thread!

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Goodluck Annie.

Thank you

[taatabunny 1]

Hey guys! Is the police certificate the certificate of good conduct? Jack lives in 2 different cities and we just wanted to be sure that the one certificate of good conduct would cover the whole requirement. They say it will take between 2-4 weeks to be ready... Does that sound about right? Thanks

Hi Annie,

The passport should have a picture of him already so no need for other photos. Just bring 2 passport size photos to the medical exam (and make sure it's the right size!). As for the police record, it does take quite awhile to get. We got ours from Interpol and it covers for all police record in Uganda, so didnt matter how many cities my fiance lived in (though he was in only one). Not sure how Kenya does it but check into it. If they dont do a country wide it might be best to get good conduct report for both city he is living in. Just to cover your bases.

All the best to you guys in this journey!

[katie & sifa 25]

Hey guys! Is the police certificate the certificate of good conduct? Jack lives in 2 different cities and we just wanted to be sure that the one certificate of good conduct would cover the whole requirement. They say it will take between 2-4 weeks to be ready... Does that sound about right? Thanks

I just asked Sifa...he said that it is the certificate of good conduct that you apply for at the local police station. The reason it takes 2-4 weeks is they have to send some information to Nairobi, where they do a national check I guess, and then send it back to the local station. So yep, it covers the whole country! He has lived several places in Kenya (3 different provinces even within the last couple of years due to election violence then job transfer) and he only had one certificate.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Oh good, thanks! Jack sent in his request two days ago so I just wanted to double check before we waited so long only to find out it was the wrong thing that would really be annoying! But glad to hear we are all set. (Thanks to Sifa, too!)

[ddartt1 2]

Hey guys! Is the police certificate the certificate of good conduct? Jack lives in 2 different cities and we just wanted to be sure that the one certificate of good conduct would cover the whole requirement. They say it will take between 2-4 weeks to be ready... Does that sound about right? Thanks

Hi AnnieMugaya

That is right. Two weeks for people who live in NBI and not more than four weeks for the rest of Kenya. All the best.

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Hey guys! I just received an email this morning with Jack's interview date. He is supposed to drop off all of his documents on Nov 18th and 12:30 and then appear for his interview the following morning at 7am. Is that normal? I didn't know that that was their procedure. I am kind of bummed because I really wanted us to be able to travel home together before Thanksgiving, but if the visa is approved, I don't know if it will be ready by the following Tuesday. (The 19th is a Friday) and I think they are closed on Wednesday. Any thoughts on this? Fingers crossed.....Thanks everyone!

[katie & sifa 25]

Hey guys! I just received an email this morning with Jack's interview date. He is supposed to drop off all of his documents on Nov 18th and 12:30 and then appear for his interview the following morning at 7am. Is that normal? I didn't know that that was their procedure. I am kind of bummed because I really wanted us to be able to travel home together before Thanksgiving, but if the visa is approved, I don't know if it will be ready by the following Tuesday. (The 19th is a Friday) and I think they are closed on Wednesday. Any thoughts on this? Fingers crossed.....Thanks everyone!

They may be changing the way they do things...when we went we just took everything the day of the interview. But I would just make an extra copy of EVERYTHING you turn in on the 18th and take it with you again on the 19th for the interview, just in case.

As for the speed of getting the visa, it took a week for us to get it (actually 8 days since one week from the interview was MLK day so the Embassy was closed.) Others here have been able to ask for an expedite, but since Sifa wasn't planning to leave with me and still had things to wrap up at home he just went and picked it up after he dropped me at the airport

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Yeah that's what I'm afraid of-- with the holiday they will probably make us wait until the week after Thanksgiving-- what a downer!! I suppose I'll try to call them tomorrow to talk the options thru with someone. But you're right, there have been people who got it the next day, or after two days, so maybe we will get lucky! I can't wait to be over there in 3 weeks. Yayy!

Oh yeah, and good advice about the copies-- they have been known to lose documents! Thanks

[AnnieMugaya 3]

I keep thinking of more things and adding them onto the bottom of my post, haha. I wonder if submitting the documents the day before allows them to check everything before issuing the visa, so that if approved, it will be ready sooner, rather than seeing everything for the first time at the interview and then having to confirm their validity and truth afterward-- which is why maybe they used to take a little longer to have the visa ready for pickup. Wishful thinking....? :-P

[taatabunny 1]

Guess they just keep trying to change things up. Don't worry too much, Annie. Just help him present the case well: you guys want to spend Thanksgiving in the US with your family. Surely these people have some sympathy. ha.

The lady who interviewed us was so stern, we couldnt get her to crack a smile when we first came to the window for the interview even with both of us grinning like silly monkeys to make the whole process less nerve-wracking. But albeit the not smiling, in the end she was very nice and understanding about us coming from Kampala and told us the visa would be ready in the morning.

So don't worry too much, it'll all work out

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Thanks, taatabunny! Were you able to stand at the window during the interview? We changed our interview date to Nov 15th and 16th which is awesome because I just found out that had we had to submit our documents on thursday the 18th, we would have had the actual interview on Monday the 22nd! How inconvenient is that?! They were very nice and let us switch it with no problem though, which was great. Jack's medical is this Wednesday and I will fly there on the 12th! Can't wait!!

[katie & sifa 25]

Thanks, taatabunny! Were you able to stand at the window during the interview? We changed our interview date to Nov 15th and 16th which is awesome because I just found out that had we had to submit our documents on thursday the 18th, we would have had the actual interview on Monday the 22nd! How inconvenient is that?! They were very nice and let us switch it with no problem though, which was great. Jack's medical is this Wednesday and I will fly there on the 12th! Can't wait!!

Awesome! It's getting so close!

For what it's worth, they let me stand at the window with Sifa during the interview. Hope they let you as well!

[taatabunny 1]

As for me Annie, they did not let me stand at the window. The lady really didnt care much about me. Once she saw me she just said, "Ma'am, you can have a seat there (waiting chairs)." Maybe you g guys will get a different consular and s/he will let you stand there

Good luck and have a safe and enjoyable trip, Annie!

[shefellfromheaven 18]

Hi all

It seems the process at the embassy keeps changing. Annie good luck and you are in our prayers.

Bon Voyage

Edited November 4, 2010 by shefellfromheaven

[AnnieMugaya 3]

Hey everyone! As of Oct 1, the process changed as they split the interview into two days-- the first to submit everything, and the second to have the actual interview. We appreciate all the thoughts! Jack just got his medical results back today-- he is perfectly fine! Yay! So that was the final hurdle we needed to leap before the interview....here we go! I'll keep you posted on our end result. Thanks again for the support!